How the time zone calculator works
Pick a date and a time, and the calculator works out the exact moment that time happens in the UK, then shows the local time in each city at that same moment. It uses the time zone database built into your web browser (the same IANA database used by phones and computers), so every country's daylight saving rules are applied for the date you choose. Nothing is sent anywhere.
That matters because the gap between the UK and other countries isn't fixed. The UK changes its clocks on different dates from the USA and Australia, and many countries, such as India, Dubai and Japan, don't change their clocks at all.
BST and GMT
The UK is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0) in winter and British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) in summer. According to GOV.UK, the clocks go back on 25 October 2026 and forward again on 28 March 2027, then back on 31 October 2027. The changes happen at 1am GMT (2am BST), on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October.
UK time differences at a glance
| City | When the UK is on GMT (winter) | When the UK is on BST (summer) |
|---|---|---|
| Paris, Madrid, Berlin | 1 hour ahead | 1 hour ahead |
| Dubai | 4 hours ahead | 3 hours ahead |
| India | 5h 30m ahead | 4h 30m ahead |
| Tokyo | 9 hours ahead | 8 hours ahead |
| Sydney | 11 hours ahead (most of the UK winter) | 9 hours ahead (most of the UK summer) |
| New York | 5 hours behind | 5 hours behind |
| Los Angeles | 8 hours behind | 8 hours behind |
The table shows the usual gaps, but for a few weeks each year they're different. In the USA, daylight saving time ends on 1 November 2026 and starts again on 14 March 2027, a week or two away from the UK's changes. So between 25 October and 1 November 2026, New York is only 4 hours behind the UK, and from 14 to 28 March 2027 it's 4 hours behind again. In Sydney, clocks go forward on 4 October 2026 and back on 4 April 2027, so the gap there moves between 9, 10 and 11 hours during the year.
Worked examples
What time is 12 noon UK time in New York?
On 15 July 2026 the UK is on BST (UTC+1) and New York is on Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4), so noon in London is 07:00 in New York. On 15 December 2026 the UK is on GMT and New York is on Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5), and it's still 07:00. But on 28 October 2026, between the two clock changes, noon in the UK is 08:00 in New York.
What time is 12 noon UK time in India and Sydney?
India is UTC+5:30 all year. On 15 December 2026, noon GMT is 17:30 in Delhi and Mumbai, and 23:00 in Sydney, where it's summer and the clocks are on AEDT (UTC+11). On 15 July 2026, noon BST is 16:30 in India and 21:00 in Sydney.
Tips for calls and travel
- Arranging a call with the USA: late afternoon in the UK, from 2pm to 5pm, is morning on the US east coast. For the west coast, 4pm to 6pm UK time is 8am to 10am in California.
- Calls to Asia and Australia: early morning in the UK is afternoon in India and evening in Sydney.
- Flights: times on tickets are always local, so use the "time is in" box to turn an arrival time abroad back into UK time.
- To work out how long a flight or shift lasts, use the hours calculator. For a countdown to your trip, try the days until calculator, or count the days between dates with the date calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between the UK and New York?
New York is usually 5 hours behind the UK. For a week or so in March and in late October or early November, when the two countries change their clocks on different dates, it's 4 hours behind.
Is the UK on BST or GMT now?
The UK is on BST (UTC+1) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, and on GMT (UTC+0) the rest of the year. In 2026 the clocks went back on 25 October, and they go forward on 28 March 2027.
How many hours ahead is Dubai?
Dubai is 4 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 3 hours ahead during BST, because Dubai doesn't use daylight saving time.
What is the time difference between the UK and India?
India is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of the UK in winter and 4 hours 30 minutes ahead in summer. India stays on UTC+5:30 all year.
How far ahead is Sydney?
Sydney is 11 hours ahead of the UK for most of the UK winter and 9 hours ahead for most of the UK summer. For a few weeks around the clock changes in March, April and October it's 10 hours ahead.
Last reviewed October 2026 using 2026/27 figures. This calculator gives an estimate for guidance only.